Dudley council misses six targets as just 50.7 per cent of FOI replies are on time

Dudley Council’s recent performance report highlights significant failures in statutory compliance, particularly regarding Freedom of Information responses. With only half of enquiries answered within the legal timeframe, the situation represents a persistent systemic issue rather than an isolated incident. This breach undermines public trust and transparency, core principles essential for effective open data ecosystems where timely information access is a legal right, not a privilege. Furthermore, the council struggled to manage increased demand for customer services, missing targets for both call handling and subject access requests. Critics argue that blaming resource constraints is no longer acceptable, noting that better forecasting and management could prevent such bottlenecks. This lack of accountability suggests that the council is not adequately prioritizing data-driven decision-making or maintaining the operational efficiency required to support open access to public records. Ultimately, the report indicates that while financial metrics remain stable, governance and customer access require urgent improvement. This is critically relevant to open data advocates, as it demonstrates how poor internal performance directly hinders the availability of public information. Until the council rectifies these compliance gaps, the community’s ability to hold local government accountable through transparent data remains severely compromised.

Source: stourbridgenews.co.uk
Published on 2026-09-29

Divorces and dissolutions in England and Wales: latest statistics published »

Open Data

Related news